Well-Crafted Political Thriller – 5 stars
Congressmen are dying, some in apparent accidents, others killed by what most people would think of as upstanding citizens. Are these deaths related in any way? If so, who is pulling the strings and why?
This book is a combination political thriller and a mystery complete with clues to track down along with the main character, Paul Castle, a former journalist turned TV show host on a small cable network.
There are several subplots going on with Castle’s ex-girlfriend who is a US Attorney, Castle’s working class family roots, the transition of Castle from a hard-hitting investigative reporter into a host of a lowbrow exposé television show, and then back again into a journalist as he tracks down the leads to the Congressional deaths. Good supporting characters include Lt. Kovacs, a seasoned NYPD detective; the ex-girlfriend, Jennifer Bovano; and Murray, the ever-suffering, stressed out TV producer.
Witty dialog, plenty of good guys, a few bad guys, and a mystery. The book even gives some food for thought on federal politics for those who are interested in the Congressional seniority system and how it is structured.
Recommended.